Alito and Aleu were waiting for him when he entered the forest.
"Let's go, no time to waste" Balto said quickly, then hurried past them deep into the forest.
The journey proved hard and relentless. Balto had issues along the way keeping up with Aleu and Alito. He wasn't as young as he used to be.
"Darn age, is getting to me" he said to himself, "but that's no excuse" he added.
It took two days for Balto, Alito and Aleu to make it to the Canyon that sat near the ocean. It was abandoned and quiet. Balto senses began to pick up again, that eerie feeling of a familiar foe.
"Back so soon, Half breed"
Startled by whoever had sad that Balto turned and look up on the ledge of the cliff of the mountain, it was Niju.
"Great" he whispered to himself
Now Niju had given Balto problems before, the last time he was here. He was a big wolf, with dark gray/white fur, and was built to fight.
Aleu was eager to respond "What do you want Niju? Stirring up trouble again?" asked Aleu.
Niju scowled then began to make his way down to where he could meet them face to face.
"Indeed I am. You see, it was I, who started the riots, I who scared the caribou off. It was all me" he proclaimed
Aleu growled but Balto waved her off with his paw and said "With Nava gone, I expected as much, especially from you" said Balto.
Niju grunted "That old fool, knew nothing. Why should I have to sit around listening to his lies, when we could've done so much better?
Aleu laughed "As in better, you mean you?"
Niju smirked, "It's always been about me. I've been wanting to be pack leader since the day I was born and I'm not going to let some half breed's ruin it for me." Niju finished speaking then walked over and looked Aleu directly in the eyes, then added "especially you."
Aleu flinched, but quickly responded "Was that a challenge?"
Niju looked at Balto then back at Aleu "Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn't."
Balto immediately jumped in between of them. "Enough" he shouted.
Balto looked directly at Niju then he turned his attention to Aleu before he spoke "Before we have a fight on our hands. Where our the caribou Niju? You know the packs can't survive without them.
Niju turned his head so he was directly looking at Balto "I simply arranged a deal with them, that if they leave our lands, they basically wouldn't get eaten", continuing "what ridiculous creatures anyways. They were frightened of me and immediately ran off. I know where they are, so there's no worrying to be involved" finished Niju.
"Niju, it seems to me the only way to settle this is by a challenge" declared Balto
Niju's eyes widened "What did you have in mind?" he asked
Balto, thought it over carefully for what he was going to say for the next few minutes. "How about a tag team duel, a fight?
Niju's eyes immediately lit up like he was pleased from what he was being asked of. "You want me to face you two in a match with a partner of my own choosing?" he asked.
"Correct. The winner, will take over leadership of the packs and claim the valley, not to mention the caribou if they're any left" finished Balto.
Pleased, Niju grinned until his teethed showed, then walked over to Balto, leaned into his ear and whispered "You're on."
